Use of leptin for infant with low birth weight for prevention of obesity

Abstract

The invention discloses the therapeutic and prophylactic administration of leptin to (i) an infant of low birth weight for age; (ii) a nursing mother of an infant, the infant having low birth weight for age; or (iii) a pregnant female predisposed to giving birth to an infant of low birth weight for age; for the prevention or treatment, in later life of the infant, of a metabolic disorder or other condition associated with low birth weight, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, gestational diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, hypertension or syndrome X. It is thought that the beneficial properties of leptin may be due at least in part to an effect on glucocorticoid metabolism, in particular to an increase in type 2 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity.

1 . A method for the prophylaxis or treatment, of a metabolic disorder or other condition developing later in life and associated with low birth weight, said method comprising administering lettin, or a fragment or mimetic thereof to at least one of 
 (i) an infant of low birth weight for age;    (ii) a nursing mother of an infant, the infant having low birth weight for age;    or -(iii) a pregnant female predisposed to civing birth to an infant of low birth weight for age.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condition is type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, gestational diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, hypertension or syndrome X.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the leptin, or fragment or mimetic thereof, is provided to the infant in milk.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the leptin, or fragment or mimetic thereof, is provided to the pregnant female during the third trimester of pregnancy.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the leptin, or fragment or mimetic thereof, is administered to humans, or domestic animals.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the said domestic animals are cats or dogs.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the leptin, or fragment or mimetic thereof, is formulated for administration in conjunction with an agent effective for reducing the cortisol or corticosterone bioactivity.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the agent is a direct antagonist of cortisol or corticosterone.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the agent increases the rate of inactivation of cortisol or corticosterone.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the agent increases the rate of conversion of cortisol to cortisone or corticosterone to dehydrocortocosterone.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the agent stimulates HSD-2 activity or expression.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the agent decreases the rate of synthesis of cortisol or corticosterone.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the agent decreases the rate of conversion of cortisone to cortisol or dehydrocorticosterone to corticosterone.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the agent inhibits HSD-1 activity or expression.  
     
     
         15 . A method for the prophylaxis, of a metabolic disorder or other condition developinq later in life and associated with low birth weight, said method comorisinq administerinq an aaent effective for enhancing endocrenous levels of leptin to at least one of 
 (i) an infant of low birth weight for acre;    (ii) a nursina mother of an infant, the infant having low birth weight for age,    or -(iii) a pregnant female predisPosed to giving birth to an infant of low birth weiaht for aye.    
     
     
         16 . A kit comprising leptin, or a fragment or mimetic thereof, and instructions for administration to a pregnant female, a nursing mother, or an infant.  
     
     
         17 . A kit according to  claim 16 , further comprising an agent effective for reducing cortisol or corticosterone bioactivity.  
     
     
         18 . A method of preparing a medicament or foodstuff, comprising the step of admixing leptin or a fragment or mimetic thereof, with milk.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the leptin, fragment or mimetic thereof is from a first mammalian species, and the milk is from a different source.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the milk is from a second mammalian species.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the milk is from cows, goats, or sheep.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the leptin is human leptin.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the leptin is feline or canine leptin.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 18 , further comprising admixing an agent effective for reducing cortisol or corticosterone bioactivity with said milk.  
     
     
         25 . A medicament or foodstuff, comprising leptin, or a fragment or mimetic thereof, from a first mammalian species, and milk from a different source.  
     
     
         26 . A medicament or foodstuff according to  claim 25 , wherein the milk is derived from a second mammalian species.  
     
     
         27 . A medicament or foodstuff according to  claim 26 , wherein the milk is from cows, goats, or sheep.  
     
     
         28 . A medicament or foodstuff according to  claim 25 , wherein the leptin is human leptin.  
     
     
         29 . A medicament or foodstuff according to  claim 25 , wherein the leptin is feline or canine leptin.  
     
     
         30 . A medicament or foodstuff according to  claim 25 , further comprising an agent effective for reducing cortisol or corticosterone bioactivity.